Writer for recording rotation and vertical variations of an apparatus



Nov. 26, 1963 HALL ETAL 3,112,153

WRITER FOR RECORDING ROTATION AND VERTICAL VARIATIONS OF AN APPARATUSFiled Feb. 8, 1961 I9 23 34 [3 :I I j: 3s- 2 =3 7 T I f :1, 2s 1 M I asl l7 32 IJZZZiFiZZ.

IN VEN TORS JAMES IVA/V mu By GAS/MAP r020:

United States Patent WRITER FOR RECORDING ROTATION AND VER- TICALVARIATIONS OF AN APPARATUS James Ivan Hall and Casimir S. Forde,Salinas, Califi,

assignors to Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, Oakland, Calif., acorporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 87,840 5 Claims.(Cl. 346-113) The present invention relates to a device for indicatingvariations in the elevation of rotating cylindrical devices; and moreparticularly, it relates to a device for indicating variations in theelevation of a rotating kiln, especially during hot operation of thekiln.

A rotary or rotating kiln, such as is used in many plants for calciningores, manufacturing cement and the like, is mounted at a slight or acuteangle to the horizontal so that the ore or other feed is charged in atthe upper end and flows generally down the slope of the kiln interiorsurface to the discharge or lower end, fuel generally being fed at suchlower end. Such kilns are of great lengths in most instances, oftenbeing from 200 to 275 feet in length, and are supported at variouslocations along their lengths by support bases upon which are mountedtrunnions. Tires are affixed around the kilns at these locations andride in or on the respective trunnions.

When a new kiln is being built or installed, it is a simple engineeringjob to set the trunnions to an exact center line and at the correctelevations. After a kiln has once been placed on the trunnions, the sameengineering procedure is no longer possible, and any surveys thereaftermust be made along the top of the kiln for vertical control oradjustment. Such procedures are very laborious and time-consuming; andthey also have several mechanical inaccuracies. For one thing, after theheavy kiln has been operated for some time and has expanded lengthwiseunder heat, the \trunnions will have worn or become hollowed out underthe tires at the hot location. As the kiln cools, it shrinks in lengthand the tires then are drawn up on the unworn parts of the trunnions andelevations determined under cool conditions, as according to the priorart do not reveal the true operating elevations.

After several years of operation of a rotary kiln, trunnions and tiresbecome worn, old trunnions may be replaced with new ones, bearingsbecome worn, and numerous other variables are introduced. it has been aproblem in this art to determine how extensive these changes have been,in order to devise proper corrections. It is desirable also, forinstance, to know more precisely what variations in kiln shellconfiguration may occur during operation and while the kiln is beingfired and is hot. The kiln shell is of ferrous metal, or steel, and itis lined with refractory bricks while cold. When the operation is set upand the kiln gets hot, flat spots or bulges may occur, and it issometimes desirable to determine these. More especially, however, whenvertical misalignment occurs because of the aforementioned factors orothers, there are set up undesirable stresses in the refractory liningsand unfavorable effects otherwise in the kiln operation, and it has beendesired to be able to measure such changes while the kiln is hot. When akiln has gone out of alignment, actual breaking down of the refractorybrick lining has been observed at some locations, as well as breakingoff of rivets at the joints of the shell itself.

According to the present invention, the variations in elevation or invertical alignment of an operating rotary kiln are indicated by a simpleand inexpensive device comprising a pair of wheels rotating in contactwith, and actuated by the rotation of, a rotary kiln shell, and in turnactuating a recording device. The rotating wheels 3,112,153 PatentedNov. 26, 1963 are preferably spaced from each other, and they aredisposed on a cross arm adjacent the upper end of a vertically movablesupporting element. A recording device stylus is also alfixed to thevertically movable supporting element and thereby records verticalmotions, or changes in the kiln shell or its vertical alignment.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown a preferred embodiment ofthe device of this invention where- FIGURE 1 shows an elevation view ofthe device in operative engagement with a kiln surface;

FIGURE 2 shows a front view of the recording element especially,omitting the stylus.

Referring to the drawings, base support 11 is suitably a round steelcolumn maintained vertically in any desired manner, e.g. by anadjustable tripod or other means (not shown). Movable vertical elementor bar 17, preferably rectangular in cross-section, is slidably attachedto base support 11 by brackets 33 and 34, each of which has arectangular aperture through which bar 17 passes and in which it issufficiently closely fitted that no twisting or turning occurs; andbetween lower bracket 33 and retaining pin 35 and coiled around bar 17is disposed spiral spring 18 which is under compression and acts tomaintain rotating Wheels 20 and 21 in firm contact with shell 10 of arotary kiln under investigation.

Attached to vertically movable bar 17 is arm 16 which carries at its endpencil or stylus 15, which records vertical movements of bar 17 on chart14, as will be further explained.

Aflixed to bracket 33 at its outer face and extending at an angle fromthe vertical upwardly therefrom is plate support 24. Adjacent the upperend of plate 24 is attached rotatable sprocket wheel 23. Adjacent thelower end of plate support 24 is aperture 42, through which thereextends lead screw 26. At its outer end lead screw 26 passes throughframe rod 37 and is held by cap screw 32 over collar 31 and washer 30,so that it turns freely when actuated by the chain-and-sprocket means,or manually. At its opposite end, there is affixed to lead screw 26,sprocket 2S and crank 28, the latter providing for manual turning orrotating of the screw to re-set the chart, for instance, or for anyother purpose.

Attached to bracket 33 by any desired means is frame support 12 which inthis embodiment is composed of four steel bars 36, 37, 38 and 39 weldedtogether to form a rectangular frame of greater length than width. Chartholder 13 is a rectangular metal plate of about the same width as framesupport 12 and shorter than support 12. Holder 13 is slidably movablealong top bar 38 and bottom bar 36 of the frame support and attached tothe back of holder 13 is a threaded nut 29 through which passes leadscrew 26, so that the screw and nut support and effect movement of chart13.

Pivotally attached to the upper end of bar 17 by bolt 43 is rocker arm19; and disposed on arm 19 and spaced from each other are rotatableknurled wheels 20 and 21 of which 21 is an idler wheel and 20' includesa sprocket. Chain 22 connects sprockets 20 and 23; and chain 44 connectssprockets 23 and 25. Also disposed on plate support 24 is idler wheel 27which keeps chain 44 taut, in the known manner.

When operation is to begin, chart 14 is placed on chart holder 13,suitably by bolts and screw caps or any other suitable means foraflixing the chart to the holder. For example, if a wooden chart holderor base is used, the chart can be affixed by thumb tacks or the like.

In an example of the mode of operation of the device of this invention,the device is placed beneath a hot, rotating kiln shell so that bar 17extends vertically directly in line With the center or central axis ofthe kiln.

The center line is determined at the time the kiln installation isoriginally made, and it is marked on, for instance, the concrete pierbase 40 by molding therein, in permanent position, brass indicator pin41. Wheels 20 and 21, which are preferably knurled on their surfaces ofcontact with the kiln, rotate in contact with shell 10. As wheel 20turns, it causes wheel 23 to turn, by means of sprocket chain 22. Chart14 will have been previously attached to holder 13 and stylus 15 isplaced in contact with chart 14 at its left extremity, suitably byspring means (not shown), and in this example adjusting the holder andchart by means of hand crank 28. As wheel and sprocket turns, it causeschain 22 to move and this in turn actuates sprockets 23 and 25 andcauses lead screw 26 to turn. As screw 26 turns in threaded nut 29, thisnut moves along the screw threaded and thus causes holder frame 13 andattached chart 14 to move to the right or left, as desired; and thismovement is traced on chart 14 by stylus 15. As the shell 10 turns,spring 18 acts to hold wheels 20 and 21 firmly against the shell and asthese wheels ride or pass over flat spots, bulges or otherirregularities in the shell, they will cause bar 17 to move up or down,and this vertical movement is also recorded on chart 14 by stylus 15.Principally, of course, the position of the wheels 20 and 21, andvertical bar 17, measures on chart 14 the mean vertical position oralignment of the kiln shell, as will be further explained. The screwpitch and chart size are so selected that the variations over onecomplete revolution of the kiln are shown thereon.

In operating the device and method of this invention, the chart isplaced on the holder and the device is set beneath a kiln shell whilethe latter is operating at full heat, in order to determine the trueworking position of the kiln at the selected position along the lengthof the kiln. The device is placed beneath the kiln adjacent a concretepier, such as 40, so that bar 17 is in vertical alignment with the kilncentral axis as indicated by pin 41. The vertical alignment at each tirelocation is generally determined in order to correct any variations.

Wheels 20 and 21 are therefore placed in contact with the kiln surfaceat its lowermost area and these wheels turn, actuated by the rotation ofthe kiln shell. Stylus 15 is placed in contact with the chart, e.g. atthe upper left side. As the kiln continues to rotate, chain 22, sprocket23, chain 44 and sprocket 25 are actuated as described above, and screw26 is thereby caused to turn, moving nut 29 and the attached chartholder and chart, so that stylus 15 records on the chart a horizontalline of movement. by the vertical motion imparted to stylus 15 byvertical motion of bar 17 to which the stylus-carrying arm is attached.

Thus, the graph across chart 14 usually shows a series of humps anddepressions. It has been found that this device records weld spots,rivet heads and the like as well as larger bulges or flat spots on akiln shell. A mean or average line is drawn on the chart, determined bythe points on the graph obtained during one complete rotation of thekiln shell. The elevation or distance above the ground of the brass pin(or other means) is known from the original kiln installation design. Ameasurement is now made of the distance from the vertical referencepoint, that is, the brass pin to the mean on the chart, and from themean on the chart to the kiln shell; and these values, that is, theelevation of the brass pin in lineal units, e.g. feet and inches, of thedistance from the pin to the mean line and from the latter to thelowermost point on the kiln shell, when added together, give theelevation or vertical distance above the ground of the shell at thatpoint. The chart support is suitably returned to the starting positionby rotating the lead screw in reverse direction by means of the handcrank.

These measurements are repeated at each tire location and where the kilnis fitted with five tires, for instance,

This line of movement is modified, however,

the vertical alignment at each tire is determined as above, to give fivereference points. It is easily observed whether all five points fall ona common straight line or whether one or more points are displaced froma straight line common to the other remaining points. For instance, itcan be seen in some instances that the kiln is from A; inch to 1 inch01f the reference line at one or more points. This variation is thencorrected, in one mode of operation, by changing the position of thetrunnions at the point in question. Where the kiln has been as low as 1inch below the reference line at one point or tire location, thecorrection has been made in practice by placing a steel shim below theworn portion of the trunnion to raise the trunnion and therefore thekiln. It has been found that periodic checks of the vertical alignmentof the kiln and correction for such undesirable variations in elevationas indicated above has resulted in much longer life for the refractorykiln linings, and has other advantages.

It will be understood that the above specific description has been givenfor purposes of illustration only and that variations and modificationscan be made therein without departing from the scope of the appendedclaims. For instance, belts and wheels can be substituted for the chainsand sprockets, although somewhat less satisfactory because many beltstend to expand under the heat radiating from the kiln. It is preferredthat the vertical movable bar 17 be square in cross-section and that thebracket holes conform thereto to prevent any twisting or turning of bar17. Instead of the chart and chart holding device shown, a revolvinground chart could be used, a rotating motion being imparted by means ofthe chain and sprocket or other moving means. Alternatively, also, asingle wheel could be used in contact with the kiln shell, but thisarrangement is less efficient because the single wheel tends to bedisplaced by irregularities in the kiln surface.

What is claimed is:

1. Device for indicating variations in vertical alignment of a rotatingkiln comprising in combination a base support, a vertically movablevertical support bar mounted on said base support in slidable engagementthere- With, a pair of Wheels adapted to rotate in contact with theexterior surface of said kiln, said wheels being disposed on a rockerarm and spaced from each other, said rocker arm being disposed adjacentthe upper end of said vertically movable vertical support bar, a spiralcompression spring disposed around said bar to maintain said wheels incontact with said surface, a fixed chart support, a horizontally movablechart-holding frame disposed on said chart support, means actuated bysaid rotating wheels to effect horizontal movement of said frame, and astylus fixed to said vertically movable support bar to record rotationand vertical variations on said chart.

2. Device as in claim 1 wherein said means actuated by said rotatingwheels includes a series of chains and sprockets and a lead screw, saidlead screw engaging a threaded nut atfixed to said movable frame.

3. Device as in claim 2 wherein said lead screw is manually operable forre-setting said chart-holding frame.

4. Device for indicating variations in vertical alignment of a hot,rotating kiln shell comprising in combination a base support, avertically movable bar of rectangular cross-section slidably engaged byupper and lower brackets on said base support, a rocker arm pivotallyattached to the upper end of said movable bar, a knurled rotatable wheeldisposed at each end of said rocker arm, a sprocket axially disposedadjacent one of said wheels, a support plate extending angularlyupwardly from said lower bracket on said base support, an upper and alower sprocket disposed on said support plate, a chain engaging saidrocker arm sprocket and said upper sprocket, a second chain engagingsaid upper sprocket and said lower sprocket, a chart support frameaflixed to said sup- J pert plate adjacent its lower end, a movablechart support disposed on said frame, a threaded nut affixed to the rearsurface of said chart support, a lead screw extending from said platesupport and engaged by said threaded nut and by said lower sprocket,means for manually rotating said lead screw, stylus means attached tosaid movable bar for recording rotating and vertical motion, and a charton said chart support.

5. Device for indicating variations in vertical alignment of a rotatingkiln comprising in combination a base support, a vertically movablesupport means mounted on said base support and in slidable engagementtherewith, a pair of wheels adapted to rotate in contact with theexterior surface of said kiln, said wheels being disposed on a rockerarm and spaced from each other, said rocker arm being disposed adjacentthe upper end of said vertically movable support means, means formaintaining said wheels in contact with said kiln surface, a fixed chartsupport, a horizontally movable chart-holding frame disposed on saidchart support, means actuated by said rotating wheels to effecthorizontal movement of said frame, and means fixed to said verticallymovable support means to record rotation and vertical variations on saidchart.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,537,858 Richard Jan. 9, 1951 2,676,867 Kareby Apr. 27, 1954 FOREIGNPATENTS 571,817 France Feb. 8, 1924

1. DEVICE FOR INDICATING VARIATIONS IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT OF A ROTATINGKILN COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A BASE SUPPORT, A VERTICALLY MOVABLEVERTICAL SUPPORT BAR MOUNTED ON SAID BASE SUPPORT IN SLIDABLE ENGAGEMENTTHEREWITH, A PAIR OF WHEELS ADAPTED TO ROTATE IN CONTACT WITH THEEXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID KILN, SAID WHEELS BEING DISPOSED ON A ROCKERARM AND SPACED FROM EACH OTHER, SAID ROCKER ARM BEING DISPOSED ADJACENTTHE UPPER END OF SAID VERTICALLY MOVABLE VERTICAL SUPPORT BAR, A SPIRALCOMPRESSION SPRING DISPOSED AROUND SAID BAR TO MAINTAIN SAID WHEELS INCONTACT WITH SAID SURFACE, A FIXED CHART SUPPORT, A HORIZONTALLY MOVABLECHART-HOLDING FRAME DISPOSED ON SAID CHART SUPPORT, MEANS ACTUATED BYSAID ROTATING WHEELS TO EFFECT HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID FRAME, AND ASTYLUS FIXED TO SAID VERTICALLY MOVABLE SUPPORT BAR TO RECORD ROTATIONAND VERTICAL VARIATIONS ON SAID CHART.